Lando Norris insists he had opportunities to leave McLaren before signing a contract extension with the F1 team.
The reigning world champion, who has been with McLaren for a decade since joining their junior programme, at the weekend signed a new deal with the Woking-based outfit until 2030.
The 26-year-old Briton won his first world championship last year, pipping Max Verstappen and teammate Oscar Piastri to the title, and believes he was rewarded for his loyalty to the team in more difficult years.
That being said, Norris says there were other options on the table.
"There was opportunity of course,” Norris told Sky Sports F1. But opportunity that is positive. There's opportunities to gamble at times. I'm a driver that personally I would take one or two tougher years over instant success - as I did a few years ago with McLaren.
"As much as I want to win every single year, not everything is about I need to be with a team tomorrow that's going to win the next race and do this and do that."
Norris made his F1 debut as a 19-year-old in 2019 and has won 13 races for the team, registering 48 podiums in total. He is also on a win streak of two after recent victories in Hungary and the Netherlands.
The Bristol-born driver added that he feels “at home” at McLaren and is satisfied with the inner workings of the team, even if early-season results this year were disappointing.
"A good amount of it is also… am I just happy?” Norris added. “I was happy to be with McLaren even when we weren't winning because I'm still in an amazing opportunity and I still get to do the job I love and travel and do all these things.
“So not everything to me is about ultimate performance. A lot of it and a big part of it is the people that I'm with.
"Just the fact I feel I'm at home and I'm enjoying it. And that almost has enough control as saying 'I need to be with a team that is going to be performing and winning championships.’”
However, Norris did not rule out a move to another team in the distant future.
"It depends a little bit on what you want to achieve in your career,” he said. “Do you want ultimate success every single year? Do you want to just experience what it's like to go to a different team and experience Ferrari or Mercedes?
"For now, I'll say I'm not thinking of it. But ask me again at the end of 2030."
Norris is targeting a third consecutive victory this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix, Ferrari’s home race, in Monza. He also announced on Wednesday the launch of his own junior team, LN4 Fusion, which will compete in multiple feeder series’ next year.
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